Plastic-Eating Caterpillars Turn Trash Into Body Fat
Originally Published 6 months ago — by IFLScience
Waxworms can eat and break down plastic, specifically polyethylene, thanks to enzymes in their saliva, and they store the plastic as body fat. However, a diet solely of plastic shortens their lives and reduces their mass, making them unsuitable for direct environmental cleanup. Researchers see potential in re-engineering their plastic-degrading pathways or using them in controlled, co-supplemented environments for plastic waste management and possibly producing insect biomass for commercial use.